‘Male aggression’: Chelsea coach clashes with Arsenal counterpart after cup final

Chelsea coach Emma Hayes appeared to push Arsenal counterpart Jonas Eidevall and later complained about “male aggression” after her side’s quadruple bid ended with defeat in the women’s League Cup final in England.

Arsenal won 1-0 in extra time on Sunday (Monday AEDT) after Stina Blackstenius scored in the 116th minute at Molineux. Hayes appeared to push Eidevall and say something to him as he went to shake her hand after the final whistle.

When questioned later, the Chelsea coach said, “I’m not down for male aggression on the touchline”. Hayes was not happy with what she described as “fronting up with players”.

“For me that’s unacceptable and, yeah, I was disappointed and I told Jonas that. I don’t think it’s OK to behave like that,” she said.

There was an exchange between Eidevall and Chelsea player Erin Cuthbert in extra time as Arsenal closed in on victory.

“I don’t see me as aggressive. She is irresponsible putting that label on it,” Eidevall said of Hayes’ “male aggression” comments.

Emma Hayes pushes Jonas Eidevall after the League Cup final.Credit: X

The disagreement was caused by Eidevall taking exception to Chelsea using an alternative ball for a quick throw-in late in the game when they had insisted pre-match on not using a multi-ball system.

Hayes will take over as US coach at the end of the season when she will lead the team at the Paris Olympics.

She was aiming to complete a quadruple of trophies in her final year at Chelsea, but Blackstenius’ late goal secured the League Cup for Arsenal.

Chelsea sorely missed Sam Kerr’s big-game goal-scoring habit, with Arsenal’s trio of Matildas all playing a part in the victory.

Matildas stars Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross lift the League Cup.Credit: Getty

Kerr was absent due to the ACL injury that has ruled her out of the Olympics, and Arsenal also initially omitted their own Matildas stars but Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley were introduced late in normal time and Kyra Cooney-Cross in extra time. All made an impact, the former pair’s fresh legs and latter’s passing stretching the game and ultimately proving decisive.

The two clubs had slugged each other to a standstill for much of the match, the contest only pausing when Arsenal’s Frida Maanum collapsed on the pitch and needed urgent medical help.

Takehiro Tomiyasu and Erling Haaland compete for a header.Credit: Getty

Maanum was stretchered off after a prolonged period of on-field treatment, the game resumed and penalties were looming when Catley and Foord linked up once more on the left flank. Catley released Foord, who cut inside in trademark style and passed to Blackstenius. The Swedish star took a touch and fired home the match winner.

Arsenal held on to deny Chelsea a possible quadruple of the Women’s Super League title, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League – a feat only once achieved by an English team, the Arsenal women themselves in 2007.

As the 90 minutes came to an end in front of a competition-final record of 21,462, Maanum, off the ball, fell to the ground. The Norwegian was quickly treated by paramedics and taken off the pitch on a stretcher. Arsenal issued an update early in extra time, confirming Maanum was “conscious, talking and in a stable condition” and would be closely monitored by the club’s medical team.

Meanwhile, in the English Premier League, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insisted his team is still the one to beat in the tightest title race for years even though they remain third in the standings following a goalless draw with rivals Arsenal on Sunday (Monday morning AEDT).

City had scored in 47 consecutive league games at Etihad Stadium before coming up against Arsenal’s mighty defensive effort on Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s side held them scoreless at the ground for the first time in the league since they were beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace in October 2021.

The draw allowed Liverpool to go top of the table on 67 points after a 2-1 victory over Brighton, while Arsenal are second on 65, a point ahead of Guardiola’s reigning champions. There are nine games left to play.

When asked who is the best side, Guardiola said: “Man City,” then added: “Your reaction, you don’t agree?”

Guardiola pointed to more parity in the league than in recent years, including last season when City pulled away from Arsenal down the stretch to win by five points. Manchester United were a distant third with 75.

“When you see Liverpool play, I said we cannot [go] 10 points in front, when I see Arsenal play, we cannot [go] 16 points in front, they are really good,” he said.

“Jurgen [Klopp, Liverpool manager] and Mikel with the teams are exceptional. But still we are there.”

AP, with AAP, Reuters

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